Page 4 of Behind the Mask

Disdain radiated off him in waves. I noticed the consistent tick of his jaw every time I talked as if he couldn't stand to hear my voice. Apparently, the two love birds were in town to plan for their wedding. Surprisingly, they wanted to get married here, in his hometown. I thought it was weird, but I guess his heart wanted otherwise.

Vanessa was glowing as she talked about how they met and how he proposed. I tried to fight the urge to spew the contents of my dinner at the table. He wanted to make me miserable, and it was working. I guessed in a sense I deserved it, but it still hurt like hell. It was as if he hadn't cared for me at all. He washappywith Vanessa, and I was a distant memory from his past. I remained silent through most of the meal, not really in the mood to talk, and I was constantly reminded of the memories we once shared.

I stormed past them and headed for the door. I was so done with his bullshit; I was tired of him constantly jerking me around.

"Olive! Wait up!"

I rolled my eyes at his nickname for me and continued towards the truck. How could he possibly think I would want to talk to him when he kept parading every damn girl in my face? Didn't he realize how I felt about him? Didn’t he care at all?

My hand reached for the door, but I was grabbed and forced around to face him. I avoided eye contact with him because I knew once I looked into his beautiful gaze, I would be gone. His fingers tilted my chin towards his as I closed my eyes to refrain from looking at him.

"What's wrong?"

I pursed my lips. Was he kidding me? I was close to lashing out at him, but I refrained, until he said my name again.

“Come on, Liv. Tell me what’s wrong.”

I pushed him back. "Are you kidding me? I'm so tired of your bullshit Axel! You need to choose. I'm done being your stupid mistake, and I'm done being someone you can jerk along while you fuck every girl in town!"

I was so angry with him. How could he seriously not know anything in that smartass head of his?

He took a step closer, "Olive, I-"

I put a hand up, "Don't. Can’t you see what you're doing to me? You're ripping me up from the inside out every time you stick your tongue down someone else's throat! You either have me or you don't, but I'm done sitting around waiting for you to open your eyes."

I turned back around and opened the door but was frozen in place when his hard chest pressed against my back.

"Liv," his hot breath whispered against my ear, as he placed a feather-like kiss at the base of my neck. He didn't understand how one touch could drive me insane. I wanted him, but not enough to deal with him hiding me as if I were a mistake. I was more than that and I deserved to be treated as such.

"Do you not understand what you do to me?" He growled.

I sucked in a breath when his hard dick grinded against my ass. His left hand brought my body closer to his, as his right hand braced us against the truck. His fingertips trailed down my body, further and further until his hand rested against my stomach. He slowly lifted the shirt up slightly, so that his fingertips could trace my belly button in circles.

My core was burning from his touch, I was eager to have him, to have all of him. He didn't understand how much I craved him.

"I want to pull your skirt up and fuck you right here in the middle of the grass." As vulgar as it sounded, it turned me on even more. My head leaned back against his chest as his hand trailed lower and lower to the base of my skirt.

"I've tried so long to get you out of my head. I've fucked girl after girl trying to remove you, but it's been no use. You’re mine. You always have been. And as much as I don't want to admit it, as much as I want to push you away so I won't hurt you, I can't hold back anymore." And just like that, he turned me around and molded his lips to mine.

He wasn't gentle, he wasn't rough, he was just right. Years of pent-up frustration and anger came out during his kiss. He pushed me up against the truck and moved my skirt up. I wrapped my legs around him as he grinded against my core. It was heated and oh, so right. My head fell back as a moan escaped my lips, and I reveled in his touch, begging him for more.

His lips trailed down my neck, as he softly left kiss after heart-wrenching kiss. And with each kiss given to me, the more I desired him. For so long I wanted and waited for him to do this, to treat me as his. And it looked like I was suddenly getting my wish.

"Olivia, are you alright? You've been spacing out for a while now." Mom’s sweet voice brought me back from the past, and I realized everyone's gaze was on me. From across the table, Axel's heated stare bore through me as the corners of his mouth tilted.

My cheeks reddened. Did I say something out loud? I had forgotten how good it felt when he claimed me as his. That night was the beginning of everything for us, and we went from best friends to lovers in an instant.

After that night, he kept his word and hadn't been with anyone else but me, until now. My gaze drifted towards Vanessa's when I witnessed the deathly glare she was giving me. I’d barely met the woman, but I guessed her hatred ran as deep as Axel’s. I would feel the same way if someone had hurt the man I loved. She placed her hand in his and they interlocked fingers. I sucked in a breath and looked away. It hurt. Damn, it hurt to see them together.

"I'm fine," I mumbled.

The doorbell rang, and I jumped from my seat. It was the perfect opportunity to get out of the room and breathe. When I opened the door, my blood ran cold.

"Well, the rumors are true. Heard you were back in town." The sound of his voice made my skin crawl.

"What are you doing here?" I was taken back to that broken girl once again. I wanted to be strong, buthebrought back memories I didn’t want to relive.

"I just wanted to see your beautiful face again. It's been a long time." He smirked as his gunmetal eyes assessed me with amusement. But I wasn't smiling, and I wasn't laughing. I was on the verge of a panic attack as the memories began to seep through. It couldn't happen, not here, not now.

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